Switch mechanism



Jan. 26,1937. v R. POPP 2,068,701

SWITCH MECHANISM Filed ar n 20, 1934 *ijg i wwiil Patented Jan. 26, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH MECHANISM corporation of Indiana Application March 20, 1934, Serial No. 716,541

6 Claims.

My invention relates to switch mechanisms and more particularly to the small type of switch ordinarily employed in a canopy or in similar places where a small switch is required for controlling a lamp and other circuits.

An object of my invention is to provide a switch of the above character for a two-circuit control, such as for controlling two filament lamps wherein either one or both filaments may be cut in circuit or both out out, and in which successive operations of the actuating button brings about the above control.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch of the above character of the so-called three-way control and also known as a two-way switch adapted for control of a circuit from two points.

Another object of my inventionis to provide a switch mechanism readily interchangeable or readily adaptable for assembly into either one of the two above types of switch mechanisms. The present invention is applied more particularly to a switch mechanism of the character shown in my prior application Serial No. 652,823, filed J anuary 21, 1933, now Patent Number 1,974,054, issued September 18, 1934., although it is to be understood that there are features of my invention not limited to the specific mechanism referred to.

There are other objects to my invention and these will be apparent from a reading of the ensuing part of the specification and appended claims.

Referring to the drawing;

Figs. 1 to 9 show the two-circuit switch; and Figs. 10 to 15, the three-way switch.

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a two-circuit switch mechanism with the top insulating plate removed;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a left end view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the switch of Fig. 1 but with the top plate and third contact in place;

Fig.5 is a detailed view of the contact spider on the ratchet wheel;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the third contact;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a combination clamp and terminal for the third contact;

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the top plate of the switch frame;

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a circuit controlled by the two-circuit switch of Figs. 1 to 8;

Fig. 10 is a topplan view similar to Fig. 1 but with a contact arranged for a three-way switch;

Fig. 11 is a front View of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a right end view of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the third contact of the switch;

Fig. 1 illustrates diagrammatically the contact mechanism of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 15 diagrammatically illustrates a circuit 5 controlled by the three-way switch.

Referring now more in detail to the two-circuit switch of Figs. 1 to 9 and considering first the operation of the switch, as applied to a two filament lamp, as in Fig. 9, three contacts, A, B, and 10 C are provided, adapted to be connected in various ways by the contact spider on the ratchet wheel. Connected to the contacts are two filaments of a lamp connected to the line or power circuit. With the switch in the position shown 5 in Fig. 9, which corresponds to the position of the switch in Fig. 1, line contact C of the switch is ofi or dead. The first pull connects contacts C and A through the bridge with contact B off, lighting filament A. The next pull connects contacts C and B together with contact A off, thereby lighting filament B. The next pull connects all three contacts C, B, and A through the contact bridge thereby lighting both filaments. The next pull brings the contact bridge to a position similar to that shown in Fig. 9 with both filament contacts A and B disconnected because line contact C is dead. Successive pulls will then operate the switch the same as before. Thus we have a circuit control whereby the first pull connects one circuit, the next pull the other circuit, the next pull both circuits, and the next pull dead. Now, as to the switch mechanism of Figs. 1 to 8, a contact wheel ll of insulating material is provided having an integral ratchet wheel adapted to be stepped ahead by successive operations of the tiltable lever 18 which pulls on the pawl l9 to advance the contact wheel step by step. In order to provide a two-circuit control, I apply a six-contact spider 20 having two sets of adjacently disposed contacts 2 l each three in number and interposed dead spaces 22 between the sets, this bridge piece being applied to the contact wheel I! so that the contact portions 2| lie in the teeth as indicated in Figs. 1 and 9. These 45 six contact segments are all connected in common as shown in Fig. 5, and each segment 2| is preferably a separate section as I have found this cuts down the arcing. However, if desired, each set of three segments may be formed as a contin- 50 uous peripheral contact the length of the three segments, as it is only necessary to effect continuous contact with a stationary contact for three steps, and a break for one step to effect the two circuit controls, Cooperating with the contact wheel are the three contact brushes A, B and C, brushes B and C being mounted upon the terminal plates 23 and 24, and the third contact A mounted upon the frame top plate 25.

In order to permit of the interchangeable use of the switch mechanism, that is, so that it may be assembled as a two-circuit switch or a twoway switch, this third contact A is applied to the top plate by a terminal plate 26. To this end the plate A is provided with a small opening 21 adapted to receive the tail 28 of the terminal plate 26, which tail piece also projects down through a hole 29 in the top plate and hooks underneath the plate as indicated in Fig. 2. The third contact A has a central opening 30 to clear the shaft of the ratchet wheel which extends into the center bearing 3| of the top plate, and contact A is also provided with a third hole 32 adapted to receive a boss on the lower part of the terminal plate 26 so as to hold the parts together and prevent relative lateral movement. Ihe contact spring A has a downwardly projecting portion 34 which passes down through the slot 35 in the top plate and continues on into a laterally extending brush portion 36 which contacts with the contact spider of the ratchet wheel.

In assembling the third contact A, it is applied to the top plate after which the tail piece 28 of the terminal plate is passed down through the hole 21 of the contact A and then downwardly through the hole 29 in the top plate and then the terminal plate 26 is pivotally moved downwardly so that the front car 31 passes down through the small slot 38 in the top plate, after which this ear 31 is bent under the frame plate as indicated in Fig. 2 to hold the parts together, thereby holding the brush 3B of contact A in proper relation to the contact wheel.

With the switch thus assembled, the terminals 33, 23 and 24 are readily available for connecting the three brushes A, B and C respectively. The switch itself is inserted in the usual casing provided for this type of switch and the switch itself may be mounted in any suitable manner and preferably by the threaded neck in a well known manner.

When the switch is used for controlling a twofilament lamp, it may be connected in circuit as shown in Fig. 9 so as to effect the independent control of the two filaments or the lighting of both simultaneously, simply by successive pulls on the control lever.

Referring now to the three-way switch of Figs. 10 to 15 in this case, I substitute for the six point contact wheel of Fig. 1, a standard four point contact wheel l1, leave the contacts B and C as in the two circuit switch of Fig. 1 and sub stitute a bridging contact A adapted to engage a single contact of the wheel IT at all times. In other words, in this three-way switch the contact A is always in contact with one of the four contact plates 2| but the contacts B and C are alternately switched in circuit. This contact A for this reason has a longer contact arm 36 than what is used in the first switch. Thus with the three-way switch in the position shown in Figs. 10 and 14, contact A is contacting one segment 2 I of the contact wheel and thus connected with contact B. Upon the first pull of the switch, the contact wheel is advanced one point thereby connecting a contact 2! with the heel 36 of contact 36 and connecting C in circuit. Contact B however, is now resting upon a dead tooth of the contact wheel so that the circuit is connected from A to C only. The next pull of the switch will advance the contact wheel one point and this time we are again connecting A with contact B but now contact C is disconnected. Accord ingly, as the switch is advanced step by step, the circuit is switched from contact A back and forth between contacts B and C. A circuit for such use is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 15, and the contacts correspondingly marked. Thus assuming the lamp in the circuit is being controlled, as shown, the circuit is open. Upon operation of one of the switches, the lamp is cut in circuit and may be cut out from the same switch or from the other one. In other words, we have the two point control for the lamp or for any other circuit that might be included.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a small compact switch mechanism which by the use of only different contact wheels and different third contacts may be readily assembled for use as either a two-circuit switch or a three-way switch.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A switch mechanism comprising a frame including upper and lower insulating plates, a ratchet and contact wheel having peripheral contact segments thereon between the plates, 3. pair of stationary contacts for engagement with the contact segments, a third stationary contact positioned upon one of the insulating plates and I having a contact arm extending laterally between the plates and resting upon the peripheral edge of the contact wheel, and a terminal plate having a tail piece extending through the third contact and frame plate and an ear passing through I and bent over the bottom of the frame plate to hold the third contact on the insulating plate.

2. A switch mechanism comprising a frame including upper and lower insulating plates, with one of said plates having a slot extending inwardly from one edge, a ratchet and contact wheel having peripheral contact segments thereon between a pair of stationary contacts for engagement with the contact segments, a third stationary contact positioned upon the slotted insulating plate and having a contact arm extending laterally between the plates and resting upon the peripheral edge of the contact wheel, with said third contact having a connecting portion extending upwardly from said contact arm and I through said slot of the insulating plate to lie wholly inside the outer edge of said plate, and a terminal plate in engagement with said third contact for maintaining said contact on said insulating plate.

3. A switch mechanism comprising a frame including upper and lower insulating plates, a toothed insulating wheel rotatably mounted be tween the plates, a contact segment member carried on said wheel with the contact segments positioned on the teeth of said wheel, a pair of oppositely disposed stationary contacts mounted between the plates and resting upon the contact segment portion on said wheel, a third stationary contact member having a mounting portion supported on one of said insulating plates and a contact portion engaging said contact segment portion on said wheel, with an intermediate connecting portion for said contact member extending through said one insulating plate, and a terminal member on said one insulating plate engaging said third stationary contact member at the mounting portion to rigidly support said contact on said one insulating plate, with said mechanism such that by changing only the contact segment member and the third stationary contact member either a two-circuit switch or a threeway switch is provided.

4. A two-circuit switch comprising a frame including a pair of spaced apart insulating plates, an eight tooth insulating wheel rotatably mounted between the plates, a six-segment contact member carried on said wheel with said segments positioned on the teeth of said wheel, a pair of oppositely disposed stationary contacts mounted between the plates and resting upon the contact segment portion on said wheel, a third stationary one-piece contact member having a mounting portion supported on one of said insulating plates and a contact portion of such a shape and positioned as to lie over a single tooth of said wheel between said plates for engaging a contact segment thereon, and said member having an intermediate connecting portion extending through said one insulating plate, and a terminal member on said one insulating plate for clamping said mounting portion of said third contact member on said one insulating plate.

5. A three way electric switch mechanism comprising a frame having a pair of spaced apart insulating plates, an eight tooth insulating wheel rotatably mounted between the plates, a foursegment contact member carried on said wheel with said segments positioned on the teeth of said wheel with a blank tooth and a segment covered tooth alternating around the wheel, a pair of oppositely disposed stationary contacts mounted between the plates and resting upon the contact segment portion on said wheel, a third stationary one-piece contact member having a mounting portion supported on one of said insulating plates and a contact portion extending laterally between said plates and of such a shape and positioned as to lie over two adjacent teeth of said wheel to always engage a contact segment of said four-segment contact member, and said third stationary contact having a connecting portion between the mounting and contact portions extending through said one insulating plate, and a terminal member on said one insulating plate for clamping said mounting portion of said third contact member on said one insulating plate.

6. A switch mechanism comprising a frame including upper and lower insulating plates and a pair of terminal posts connecting the plates, a ratchet and contact wheel having peripheral contact segments thereon, a pair of stationary contacts one supported by each post for engagement with the contact segments, and a third contact stamped from a sheet of metal and supported solely by one of the frame plates and extending between the frame plates for engagement with the contact segments, a terminal plate having a tail piece extending through the third contact and frame plate, and an ear bent around the frame plate, and a terminal screw threaded thereon, said terminal plate clamping said third contact against said frame plate, and said segments and contacts being disposed to eiTect electrical connections between different contacts by advancement of the contact wheel.

RUDOLF POPP. 

